With an emphatic 1-5 victory over Azzuri SC on Saturday night, Kaya FC-Iloilo come out of the PFF Women’s Cup elimination stage as the top seed heading into the Semifinals.
Golden Boot frontrunner Shelah Cadag led the charge, flanked on the wings by Irish Navaja and Nicole Ramores. Bhebe Lemoran, Hazel Lustan, and Hali Long formed the midfield three; supported by the backline of Mae Sullano, Mea Bernal, Mary Lam, and Zhyrelle Belluga. Khryss Dacanay manned the goal line to start the evening.
Miss Prolific secured herself another hat-trick, Shelah Cadag striking the first blow in just the 10th minute of action. The ball was rotated to Zhyrelle Belluga at the center line, who picked out the forward with a through pass straight into the final third. The Azzuri keeper came off her line to try and clear it away, but the ball ricocheted off the oncoming Cadag and bounced cheekily into the net. (0-1)
Nicole Ramores doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from the right corner of the Azzuri penalty box. Working her way across the final third, Hazel Lustan laid the ball off to Hali Long who sent it wide to the right winger. Holding play and faking like she’s looking to pass, Estong suddenly cut back to her right foot and buried the ball into the bottom left corner. (0-2)
Shelah notched her second of the night in another contest of speed in the 41st minute. From the center circle, Hazel initiated a one-two with the striker that sliced through the midfield. Making a run off her defender’s shoulder, Cadag chased after Lustan’s through pass in another one-on-one with the keeper. It was a close finish but the striker got to the ball first, twirling away from the goalkeeper after tapping it around and in. (0-3)
Kaya kept the pressure up to the very end of the half, the lead ballooning the lead to four in the 45th minute. Bhebe Lemoran released Irish Navaja up the left flank with a line-breaking long ball; and as the defense converged around her, the captain squared it to Cadag in front of a wide open goal to complete the hat-trick. (0-4)
Kyra Dimaandal put the finishing touches on Iloilo’s scoring deluge in the 74th minute of action. Hazel Lustan once again spotted a runner from her position at the center circle, playing a pass through to the former La Salle captain up the right flank. After taking a touch to get into the box and in firing range, Kyra placed her strike neatly into the bottom left corner. (0-5)
Azzuri SC didn’t give up just yet, however, and the blues managed to snatch one back in the 82nd minute. Due to the awarding of a bizarre indirect free kick from an apparent penalty on Inna Palacios, the blue’s Hannah Muros placed her shot just beyond the keepers fingertips and into the back of the net. (1-5)
Coach Marigen Ariel made five personnel changes on the evening:
- Inna Palacios and Kate Dacanay entered the game at halftime for Khryss Dacanay and Mae Sullano.
- Ryannia Dahildahil checked in for Mea Bernal in the 61st minute.
- Marigen Ariel and Kyra Dimaandal relieved Zhyrelle Belluga and Nicole Ramores in the 68th minute.
- Lastly, Tessa Bernardo subbed in for Shelah Cadag in the 79th minute.
No Iloilo players made their way into the referee’s book in this match.
Kaya FC-Iloilo advance to the PFF Women’s Cup Semifinals, set to take on the University of the Philippines on Sunday, December 11 at the PFF National Football Center.
